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Home , 2020 in Croatia, Armenia

and

Central

N.Margaryan Region (ECAR)

/2021/ Humanitarian Situation Report No. 1

Armenia

© UNICEF/ © One-year-old Arina is receiving her routine vaccination Reporting Period: 1 – 31 March 2021

Highlights Situation in Numbers 1 UNICEF works in 22 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia Region (ECAR) and is present in , targeting refugee and migrant populations. 13,888,013* confirmed • Since mid-March in ECAR, COVID-19 cases increased in Armenia, Bosnia and COVID-19 cases and Herzegovina, , , North and . has the highest rate of confirmed cases at 14,582 per 100,000 population, followed by a 259,267 deaths rate of 7,039 cases per 100,00 population in . • UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) continues to focus on 50 million** enhancing emergency preparedness and response capacity and strengthening children affected by risk-informed programmes that build resilience. Furthermore, ECARO’s response partial of full closures of to COVID-19 continues to focus on preventing transmission of COVID-19 and mitigating the impacts on vulnerable children and families. This entails school strengthening systems and services and supporting relevant supply provision in the areas of social protection, education, health, WASH, risk communication 6 million*** education, nutrition and providing protection to at-risk children and adolescents. additional children are • During the reporting period, more than 184,000 children and women accessed living in poor households primary health care. Almost 9 million children benefitted from formal and non- formal education. Around 341,000 children and caregivers accessed mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS). Approximately 307,000 people benefitted 3.7 million**** through national cash transfer systems with technical support from UNICEF. Children are prone to • In 2021, UNICEF ECAR has received $7.5 million out of an appeal just under $72 high earthquake risk

million. With an additional $8.3 million of carried forward from the previous year, a funding gap of 78% remains. UNICEF ECAR acknowledges and appreciates the generous contributions from all public and private sector donors. Funding Requirement

UNICEF’s Funding Status 2021 HAC ($ 71,971,750) US$ XX million

Humanitarian Nutrition 12% Other Funds $4.8M resources, Health 30% $2.7M WASH 4% Carry- Child Protection , GBV & PSEA 21% forward, Education 27% $8.3M Social Protection 10% C4D 23% Emergency Response 57% Preparendess and DRR 41% Funding Gap 56 M RO Technical Capacity 75%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

1 , Armenia, , , , , Croatia, Georgia, , , *[*In line with UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1244), , Moldova, Montenegro, , , Serbia, , , , , * These figures cover data from 23 countries including Italy until 31 March 2021 data source “WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard ** Data calculated from Education: From disruption to recovery (.org) for 23 countries including Italy, as of end March 2021 *** This was estimated by UNICEF based on Bank economic growth projections, 2020 1 ****Figure estimated based on country specific interagency plans for earthquakes, 2017-2019, Regional Inter-Agency Standing Committee contingency plan for earthquake in Central Asia and South , 2016, Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery, Disaster Risk Profile for Turkmenistan, 2015, and country multiple indicator surveys in 2018 and 2019 Regional Funding Overview & Partnerships Under UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) for Europe and Central Asia, UNICEF is appealing for a little less than $72 million. At the end of this reporting period, ECAR has raised nearly $7.5 million, or 22% of the required funding. UNICEF gratefully acknowledges donors whose contributions were received during the reporting period: the , the Government of , Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF), the , GAVI Vaccine , USA Centres for Disease Control (CDC), Global Thematic Humanitarian Funds as well as from the UNICEF National Committees in , the , , and and from UNICEF’s private sector fund raising efforts in Croatia and Romania. At country level, UNICEF works closely with other UN agencies, particularly WHO and UNDP, GAVI, governments and line ministries, NGOs and civil society to conduct assessments of the impact of COVID-19 on children and their families and develop and implement strategic action plans to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and other emergencies. Regional Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs During the first quarter of 2021, there were 13.2 million confirmed cases and 259,267 deaths from COVID-19 in the ECA countries.2 Montenegro had the highest rate of confirmed cases at 14,582 per 100,000 population followed by 7,039 per 100,000 population in Georgia. Serbia, Armenia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova saw a sharp increase in confirmed cases starting from mid-March. The emergence and spread of new variants of the COVID- 19 virus has contributed to the continued increase in reported cases, which currently stands at almost double the cumulative cases of 7.7 million that were reported by the end of 20203. As a precautionary measure, the Government of Moldova declared a of Emergency from April until the end of May. The governments in Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey imposed partial lockdowns, curfews, travel bans and closures of businesses. The health facilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia faced pressures on capacity as efforts continued to contain transmission. The implementation of contact tracing and public compliance with preventive measures such social distancing remained matters of concern. As the COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out, UNICEF, WHO and other partners are supporting governments to combat vaccination hesitancy. By the end of the reporting period, all countries in the region started vaccination, although not all vaccines were delivered by the COVAX facility. The following countries received doses from COVAX: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.4 Until end March, overall 1,289,220 doses of vaccines have been delivered by COVAX. Only 2 countries (Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine) in the region had not yet received vaccines from COVAX facility5. Due to lockdown measures and continued school closures throughout 2020 and into 2021, many children have been impacted by considerable learning loss and have experienced negative effects on their physical and mental development. Many schools that had resumed face-to-face classes in January/ closed again in March. The closure or partial closure of schools in Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia has affected more than 50 million children.6 While many children without access to internet and digital technologies could not easily access online education, some countries, including North Macedonia, Turkey and Uzbekistan disseminated lessons through television and through the provision of printed learning materials. Lockdown measures also increased risk of exposure to gender-based violence (GBV), exploitation and abuse. Increased cases of violence at home and risks of child abandonment were reported in Albania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. In some countries, the pandemic also continued to impact routine immunization among children due to suspended or limited routine health services. Montenegro for example continued to report the lowest national immunization coverage rates for MMR1 which had decreased below 23.9% in 2020 from 42.1% in 2018 (latest public report). During the reporting period, UNICEF continued supporting countries in catching up children with their routine immunisation schedules. With the closure of businesses and loss of jobs, the economic impacts on families continued to adversely affect the wellbeing of children including increasing deprivations due to poverty. Economic activity in the region is estimated to have contracted by 2.9% in 2020 in the wake of disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, the pandemic is estimated to push an additional 2.2 million under the $3.20 a day poverty line in the region, with household surveys in some countries, particularly in Central Asia, reporting an uptick in food insecurity.7 The region remained prone to natural hazards, with the two earthquakes which occurred at the end of 2020 in Croatia continuing to affect over 70,000 people. Numerous aftershocks increased fear and anxiety of residents and caused further damage to the houses and buildings, with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic further compounded the vulnerabilities of affected families.

2 Source: All epidemiological datafrom WHO as of 31 March 2021 and includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo*, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, N. Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Italy. 3 By 31 2020, 7,695,249 cumulative cases in the same countries were reported since the start of the pandemic in February 2020 per WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard 4 https://www.who.int/news/item/08-04-2021--reaches-over-100-economies-42-days-after-first-international-delivery 5 Given global effort and scale required, UNICEF resource mobilization for COVAX, the vaccines pillar of ACT-A is included under the UNICEF’s Global Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT- A) HAC. The USD 659 million appeal covers global needs of UNICEF and partners to deliver vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics and support related risk communication and community engagement and country preparedness efforts for the vaccine roll out. See appeal here: https://www.unicef.org/appeals/access-covid-19-tools-accelerator-act 6 Education: From disruption to recovery (unesco.org) * All references to Kosovo should be understood to be in relation to United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). 7 https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/global-economic-prospects

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Regional Humanitarian Leadership, Coordination and Strategy ECARO continues to focus on enhancing capacity in emergency preparedness and response, strengthening risk- informed programming with the focus on child- centered disaster risk reduction, and actions to reduce the impacts of climate change to children. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in ECAR, UNICEF continues to focus on provision of a multi-sectoral response to emergencies, prevent the transmission of COVID-19, and mitigate the socioeconomic impacts on vulnerable children and families. This includes strengthening systems and services for the continuity of health and nutrition services; developing the capacities of front-line health and social workers; enhancing infection prevention capacities through training and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE); scaling up WASH services and supplies in schools and health care facilities; supporting quality, appropriate education and early learning; supporting protection; preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV); providing mental health and psychosocial support services for children and families and children in alternative care; promoting social protection services, including cash transfers for economically vulnerable families; facilitating appropriate risk communication and behaviour change activities; and engaging adolescents and young people. Through the sectoral response, UNICEF ensures linkages between humanitarian and development programme to build resilient system and services. At regional level, UNICEF is working closely with WHO, GAVI, the , (ADB) and other relevant partners to support countries in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. UNICEF has been participating in the regional coordination and technical groups covering supply and logistics, communication, and demand . At country level, UNICEF, along with WHO and other partners, is active in national coordination and providing technical support to governments on programme implementation and communication strategies, related to COVID-19. UNICEF is also working with partners at country level to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the socioeconomic situation and mental health of vulnerable groups of children and adolescents, generating evidence to inform policies and programmes. Summary of UNICEF’s Actions in the Region In relation to the ECA 2021 HAC appeal actions include ECARO support on emergency preparedness, program response, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate actions in 22 countries. It also highlights the COVID 19 response in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the of Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Progress on UNICEF`s COVID-19 vaccine roll-out across the region is recorded in a dedicated situation report. Emergency preparedness, response, DRR UNICEF continued to enhance disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness and response capacities in Central Asia, with a particular focus on state counterparts, in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) at regional level, and in close collaboration with National Red Crescent Societies (NRCS) in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. During the reporting period, in Kyrgyzstan UNICEF and Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan prepositioned supplies and developed standard operation procedures (SOPs) for rapid release of supplies and activation of emergency response partnerships. In Tajikistan, UNICEF presented the shock responsive social protection model to key Government and state counterparts and Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan. In Uzbekistan, UNICEF and Red Crescent Society prepositioned supplies and developed SOPs for their rapid release. Following the December 2020 earthquake in Croatia, UNICEF delivered 13.5 tons of emergency supplies. In partnership with Government and local organisations, UNICEF remained focused on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable children and families. Children and their caregivers in Sisak, Glina, Petrinja and Vrbina received psychosocial support including training, supportive coaching and referral services, with outreach teams providing mobile support. Critical supplies were provided in newly established container settlements in Petrinja. Online webinars for stress reduction and mental health were provided to staff of nine schools in Sisak-Moslavina. To prevent Roma children from school dropout after the earthquake and impacts of COVID-19, Roma mentors received training and will work with over 200 Roma students and their parents, with the help of local schools in Sisak-Moslavina and , to improve school routines, and encourage attendance. UNICEF launched a flash appeal to meet critical needs of over 13,700 affected children, for which an additional $760,000 is still required. Nutrition UNICEF is supporting national governments in sharing information on age-specific nutrition habits, targeting prevention of overweight/obesity, and promoting a healthy lifestyle in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the region, approximately 670,000 primary caregivers of children (0-23 months) were reached with messages and counselling on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) since January. In Bulgaria and Kosovo*, house visits reached targeted populations with important information, in particular, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and parents of young children. To promote evidence-based interventions, UNICEF is also supporting child development monitoring in Albania and Kazakhstan. With support from UNICEF, Uzbekistan launched a national Maternal and Child Nutrition Strategy and Action Plan to benefit 7 million children aged under 10 years and 5.7 million of adolescent girls and women aged 15-34 years annually. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, four Mother-Baby Corners (MBCs) provided parents and pregnant women

3 with IYCF counselling, information/awareness raising on hygiene and prevention of COVID-19, psychosocial counselling, and supported the provision of food and critical hygiene packages. Health UNICEF is supporting governments and communities to control the spread of COVID-19 and restore essential health services from the impact of the pandemic and other emergencies. During the reporting period, UNICEF has been responding to increased demands at country level for technical guidance, for example, to catch up on routine immunization and other child health programmes, ensure the safe reopening of schools, secure the procurement of COVID-19 hospital equipment, and deliver training of health personnel. In many countries in the region, UNICEF is engaging in information campaigns and advocacy for routine and COVID- 19 vaccines. Catch-up immunizations campaigns are running in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo (including door-to- door identification service for children in marginalized communities), Montenegro and Ukraine. Jointly with WHO, UNICEF Turkmenistan provided technical inputs to the development of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Plan and implementation plan to ensure minimum standards. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, cold chain rehabilitation plans for routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination have been developed, and in Uzbekistan a training was held on cold chain maintenance and budgeting. UNICEF is supporting the training of health care professionals on a variety of topics, including COVID-19 vaccination, prevention and treatment, case management, hospital emergency management, risk communication, breastfeeding, and psychosocial support in Azerbaijan, Belarus, North Macedonia, Romania, and Uzbekistan. Health care workers have been trained on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) standards in Albania Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia and Turkmenistan. UNICEF Moldova is also supporting a Gavi led exercise on strengthening capacities of national procurement professionals with a focus on vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Armenia and Croatia are educating pregnant women and parents on topics including childbirth, breastfeeding, effective maternal and child health and nutrition as well as home care practices in the COVID-19 pandemic context. In Georgia, UNICEF focused on trainings for rural health care providers and provided internet access to rural ambulatories to support the creation of a centralised communication platform. In Bulgaria, capacity building of paediatric practitioners on the importance of early identification of developmental difficulties and referral to early childhood intervention was conducted. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, paediatric healthcare services, including paediatric health check-ups, pre-school medical examinations, and individual counselling on overall health and immunization are supported, while neonatology services were supported with medical equipment (incubators, resuscitation tables, photo therapy units, warmer systems for newborns) for intensive care units in maternity hospitals in Albania. Croatia conducted the first online re-assessment of a maternity hospital to confirm its ‘child- friendly’ status. UNICEF shipped COVID-19 supplies worth close to $1 million to ECAR countries. UNICEF procured and delivered a range of PPE and hygiene supplies to hospitals, health care centres and health professionals/workers in Albania, Kosovo*, Moldova, Serbia and to residential care institutions in Belarus. Medical equipment including oxygen concentrators, child sphygmomanometers, ventilators, COVID-19 test, ampules of dexamethasone, pulse oximeters, PPE and hygiene products were handed over to Ministries of Health in Belarus, Croatia, Kazakhstan, and to hospitals in Moldova, Serbia and Turkmenistan. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo*, UNICEF procured vaccine carriers for routine and COVID-19 immunization as well as protection kits or hygiene material for schools. In Azerbaijan, health workers were trained on the use of IT equipment, medical equipment and provided with PPE. WASH UNICEF continued collaboration with national and local government authorities to support children and their families with critical WASH and hygiene supplies, reaching approximately 386,000 people. UNICEF efforts are helping ensure countries have the capacity to implement hygiene practices at family and community level in the context of COVID-19. In Albania, UNICEF worked with local authorities to reach targeted municipalities with personal and family hygiene supplies. In addition, supplies were handed over to maternity hospitals where around 7,000 newborns will benefit from improved quality of neonatal care. UNICEF is also supporting government in ensuring adequate WASH supplies and facilities at schools in Armenia, Croatia, Georgia, North Macedonia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to support safe reopening once the pandemic situation allows in each specific country context. In Armenia, WASH facilities in schools are being improved along with hygiene promotion activities for children. WASH assessments have been conducted in Bulgaria, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and are underway in Kazakhstan to inform advocacy with line ministries and targeted interventions to improve WASH facilities. Critical WASH supplies have been procured in Moldova, UNICEF Kosovo* provided baby hygiene kits for disadvantaged children from Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities. UNICEF Armenia distributed needs-based support packages to displaced persons, benefitting 144 children and 115 adults. Informative videos on the importance of handwashing during COVID-19 have been published in several languages in Kazakhstan. Child Protection, GBV and PSEA UNICEF continues to support governments and partners to ensure continuity of community-based child protection services, including case management. UNICEF continues to focus on protecting children at risk of family separation and children and women at risk of GBV and preventing sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). During the reporting period,

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UNICEF and partners reached approximately 341,000 children and caregivers with mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) across the region. In Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan, UNICEF is responding to increasing cases of child abuse, exploitation, exposure to (domestic and gender-based) violence as well as risks of abandonment by intensifying outreach, identification, prevention and response services through mobile teams. Approximately 2,000 children and adults were reached with case management and referral service during the reporting period. To address the increasing domestic violence cases in Kazakhstan after the findings from 2020 Rapid gender assessment by UN Women and UNFPA, a UNICEF campaign on prevention of violence against children as well as outreach to parents on positive parenting reached approximately 3 million people via social media posts and online communications. CSO partners were trained on Social Media Marketing to continue communicating for prevention of violence through their organizational accounts. MHPSS, legal support and counselling are provided to migrant and refugees children and their families in asylum centres in Kosovo and Kazakhstan. In Armenia training of foster families for emergency alternative care arrangements continued and an e-library and e- learning platform for specialists developed with courses on child psychotherapy and organizing work with children. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) teams in regional centres and networks of peer support volunteers (PSV) were established. In Uzbekistan, support was provided to government in preparing for the return of unaccompanied children with family tracing, identification of alternative care arrangements, case management and community reintegration. Turkey offered MHPSS and messaging through a blended approach of face-to-face and structured counselling, as well as phone and/or virtual individual and group PSS consultations. In North Macedonia, the child protection programme for the COVID-19 response has been assessed to review and improve future interventions. Moreover, creative and educational activities are offered in small group homes and online activities for children with disabilities have been organized. MHPSS for children and adolescents was strengthened, including through dedicated helplines, chats and online counselling for children, parents or child protection professionals in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Georgia, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. Messages on positive parenting were shared via social media and printed materials in Armenia, Azerbaijan, North Macedonia and Kazakhstan. Montenegro is taking part in the pilot programme ParentChat to reduce family violence and improve relationships between parents and their children and increase child well-being through facilitated group-based online discussions. Trainings for service providers and implementing partners were provided in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan on topics such as PSEA policy and procedures, child protection services, emergency response, response to increased domestic violence due to COVID-19 and support for trauma survivors. Kazakhstan conducted online webinars on ethical approaches for state and CSOs run service providers and working with victims of domestic violence in the context of COVID-19 and offers trainings for school psychologists. An e-training on Psychological First Aid and Gender-Based Violence pocket guide as a minimum standard for psychologists, who are also engaged in responses to humanitarian crisis, has been set up in Uzbekistan. In Montenegro, UNICEF supported the Institute for Social and Child Protection to develop SOPs for cross- sectoral work on prevention and protection of children from violence and exploitation. In addition, UNICEF supported a comprehensive foster care system review and an assessment of existing family support services which will serve as a basis for a minimum package of family support services. In Moldova, UNICEF supported the development of guidelines for relevant local authorities, service providers, individual specialists and caregivers and also released an inspirational video with children to challenge gender stereotypes: "Professions have no gender. You can become whoever you want!”. Education The pandemic has intensified underlying structural barriers driving inequality and exclusion in education. UNICEF has been supporting the continuation of learning processes throughout the pandemic and with efforts to reduce the digital divide. UNICEF has focused on providing resources and building systems and capacities of teachers, managers, and parents to deliver quality, inclusive, and inspiring distance or blended learning. In addition, UNICEF is working closely with governments to ensure education policies and systems are inclusive and resilient. Since January 2021, almost 9 million children accessed formal or non-formal education and early learning activities and approximately 105,000 teachers were trained in digital and distance learning in the region. Online platforms and/or TV programmes for distance or blended learning approaches were supported in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Turkey and Uzbekistan. In Bulgaria, UNICEF is supporting the development of a platform for children living with disabilities. In addition, specialized training modules on alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) as well as the adaptation of symbol mobile application has been initiated to support non-verbal children. Provision of online learning material has been enhanced in Serbia and Armenia, where interventions are focused on supporting remote schools. Disadvantaged children, including Roma children, are supported in Croatia (through individual guidance by young Roma mentors), Montenegro (catch up classes), Serbia (supplies and technical assistance to schools) and Georgia (technical supplies to facilitate remote learning). In Turkey, UNICEF is supporting centres which are providing support to vulnerable children, including refugee children, without a computer and/or internet access at home and directly provides learning supplies for families with children under 5 from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Similarly, refugee and migrant children are supported in Bosnia and Herzegovina by 5 school enrolment and/or non-formal education activities using blended learning methods and in Serbia through Education Technology Libraries, offering classes and learning support. UNICEF provided trainings for school and teachers and other support staff focusing on topics like hygiene, COVID-19 prevention, and healthy lifestyle skills in Armenia and Moldova, early childhood education in Kosovo, online/blended learning approaches and ICT skills in Albania, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, basic psycho-social support to children in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, inclusive education in Bulgaria, pedagogy in Georgia and Serbia and career counselling in Romania. In Turkmenistan, school directors and representatives of ministries were trained on school safety assessment (SSA), DRR and climate change to enhance the capacity of school management to develop comprehensive school safety plans. Teachers and other school staff were supported in Croatia with online psychosocial to empower them to be in a better position to support their students. In Kosovo, the Generation Unlimited (K-GenU) initiative provided three-month paid internship placements for 500 young people. In Georgia, UNICEF continued to support parents in child development, communication and learning amid the COVID- 19 pandemic, including recommendations on how to communicate with children, how to use positive parenting skills to support children and help them during online schooling. UNICEF Azerbaijan provided parents with information material on psychosocial support to children learning at home. In Serbia, parents were supported with information material on social-emotional learning, well-being and resilience, and playful parenting for preschool children. In Moldova, UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research to develop Education Sector Strategy for 2021-2030, with a stronger focus on a resilient, inclusive and effective education system. UNICEF Bulgaria updated the framework for building a sustainable education system to support schools and children and prepare for safe school reopening. In addition, UNICEF facilitated an exchange between the Ministry of Education and Science in Bulgaria and the Ministry of Education in Serbia to share the Bulgarian experience on the transformation and the role of the Regional centres for supporting the process of inclusive education. In Ukraine, UNICEF supported the development of the interactive guide “Schools in Covid-19 Conditions: Preparedness for Adversities”, which provides assessments of needs and practical advice, and, based on “Building Resilient Education Systems beyond the COVID- 19 Pandemic”, arranged the content around five key areas of potential deprivation - access, quality of education, emotional health, safety and school feeding. Social Protection and Cash Transfers UNICEF continued to support governments in implementing cash transfer programmes for poor, vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19 and other emergencies and strengthen existing social protection systems and services. In Armenia, modalities for humanitarian cash transfers to support Government-led programmes, including Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and agreements, as well as harmonized post-distribution monitoring tool, have been developed by the Cash coordination group co-led by UNICEF and UNHCR in collaboration with Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA). UNICEF Uzbekistan provided technical support in the system development, staff training and auxiliary equipment for the Single Registry of Social Protection rollout which provides access to social benefits for low-income families with children at nationwide scale. In North Macedonia, another approximately 57,000 households were reached with social benefits. UNICEF Serbia jointly with the Red Cross is supporting cash transfers targeting families who are not eligible for government financial social assistance or child allowance but meet other criteria of economic deprivation. UNICEF supported assessments of the impact of COVID-19 on social protection in Armenia (including conflict affected families), Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. Georgia started a second wave of the Real Time Monitoring (RTM) surveys to examine the impact of COVID-19 on welfare, education, child disciplining and other topics. In Montenegro, the ongoing assessment will result in the roadmap of reforms for the social protection system which is a condition for EU macro-financial assistance. In North Macedonia, the findings from updated analysis of the social and economic effects of COVID-19, showed that COVID-19 is projected to strongly affect child poverty as the relative poverty is forecasted to increase from 27.8% before the pandemic to 32.4% after the pandemic, putting an additional 17,000 to 22,000 children below the relative poverty threshold. UNICEF Montenegro continued advocacy on child poverty reduction with the presentation of the report “Multidimensional Poverty of Children in Montenegro” to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms. The Government is planning the introduction of a quasi-universal child allowance for children 0-6, with UNICEF’s technical assistance, as a key measure to counter child poverty. In Belarus, the report “Vulnerable Children in the COVID-19 situation” was prepared based on MICS data to inform CO’s programming and donors. In Turkey, UNICEF continues to engage and advocate with government to strengthen social protection programmes for increasing coverage and benefits to address poverty-focused child grants. UNICEF completed a study analysing the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on household and child poverty rates in Turkey and simulating the poverty- mitigation effects of potential cash transfer programmes. The key findings of the study were presented to policy makers and stakeholders (including Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services and Presidency of Strategy and Budget) providing critical insights to inform policy recommendations and programmes to address household and child poverty, in addition to various cash transfers options in response to the crisis’ impacts.

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C4D, Community Engagement and Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) Since the start of the pandemic, UNICEF’s communication for development (C4D) activities have focused on effective handwashing and hygiene practices, physical distancing and other behaviour changes essential to inhibit the transmission of COVID-19. During the reporting period, approximately 15 million people were reached with messaging on access to services regionwide. UNICEF is also engaging young people as agents of change by listening to their needs and making their voices heard during decision-making processes. In all 22 countries, UNICEF launched campaigns and/or supported governments and partners in risk communication to limit the spread of COVID-19 and prevent misinformation, including through social media, TV, print, interviews, online chats and other outreach. Particular emphasis has been given to the promotion of COVID-19 vaccines and education on their safety and benefits. UNICEF Albania is working with youth influencers as agents of change to mobilize support for the online activities and a mobile muppet theatre that is traveling to and schools. In Turkey and Ukraine public figures and celebrities were engaged to raise awareness for these important issues. UNICEF and WHO in Turkmenistan have briefed journalists on essentials of risk communication and community engagement (RCCE). The application Health Buddy+ was launched in Bulgaria and North Macedonia to provide timely, reliable and credible information on the situation of health emergency during pandemic. In Armenia, support for children was provided on online education and online safety, healthcare measures at home. UNICEF Turkey conducted a social media based ‘Back to School’ campaign in coordination with Ministry of National Education. UNICEF Kosovo* developed a guideline on all the stages of C4D and communication activities related to COVID-19 vaccines. To build the capacity of the government, the UNICEF Regional Office, in cooperation with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, provided trainings on social listening tools and methodology on immunization, with focus on COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, young people have been engaged through Upshift and Ponder social impact workshops, including youth lead projects and through UNICEF social media accounts. UNICEF Moldova supported the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection (MoHLSP) and National Agency for Public Health (NAPH) in equipping the immunization centres with visuals and information materials, aimed at building confidence about COVID-19 vaccinations among health workers, to be immunized during the first stage of immunization roll-out and engaged with young people to enhance vaccination and awareness raising through U-Report In Romania, UNICEF amplified children’s voices to influence decision-making on COVID-19 and the impact on their mental health through youth-led articles and videos. Consultations with children and young people are also feeding into UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, including their recommendations on how to use the experience from the COVID- 19 crisis on online engagement. As a part of community engagement, UNICEF Ukraine, with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, has launched an edutainment video course “Media literacy in a time of pandemic". The videos are designed to provide young people with tools for discerning misinformation and fakes, that can be applied to any news, not only that about COVID-19. Story from the field

UNICEF's support during the pandemic cannot be realized without the dedicated work of front-line health workers, teachers and social workers. In ECA, 76.8 per cent of the care workforce is female. To guarantee the health and safety of essential female workers and to provide affordable, quality

care for their children is one of the priorities under UNICEF's gender and COVID-19 responses. Country offices in the region work closely with female frontline workers and recognize their pivotal roles in delivering services to children who are most in need during the pandemic. Read more about Dr. Olha Kobevko, an infectious disease specialist from

Chernivtsi, Ukraine, and her experience here: Ukrainian UNICEF/Ukraine/2020

doctors on frontline in COVID-19 fight | UNICEF Ukraine ©

Internal and External Media • UNICEF Croatia: UNICEF helps children in Croatia recover after a devastating series of earthquakes • UNICEF Croatia: “What is most important is that we are all alive and well!” • UNICEF Kazakhstan: Stateless children: a story of and Sultan • UNICEF Kosovo: The Pivotal Role of Early Childhood Education • UNICEF Montenegro: The key factors in the fight against poverty are employment of parents and quality family support • UNICEF Montenegro: 2021 begins with immunization against coronavirus • UNICEF Moldova: Voices of Moldovan children and adolescents: Everything will be all right! • UNICEF Romania: The art of mental health • UNICEF Tajikistan: UNICEF installed 100 child rights corners in schools around Tajikistan • UNICEF Ukraine: Teens feeling trapped in lockdown turn to helpline for support 7

Next Situation Report: 21 July 2021

Who to contact for Afshan Annmarie Swai further information: Regional Director Regional Adviser, Emergency UNICEF Regional Office for UNICEF Regional Office for Europe Europe and Central Asia and Central Asia Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

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Annex A: Summary of Selected Programme Results 2021 UNICEF Areas of Response Target Results Nutrition Number of primary caregivers of children 0-23 months reached with messages and counselling 552,500 669,577 i on IYCF Health Number of healthcare facility staff and community health workers trained in infection prevention 24,550 4,600 and control (IPC)

Number of children and women accessing primary healthcare in UNICEF supported facilities 341,600 184,176

Number of children vaccinated against measles 476,315 23,530ii Number of caregivers and frontline professionals (healthcare, social workers, teachers) 400,333 12,816iii provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Number of people reached with critical WASH supplies (including hygiene items) and services 776,000 385,945

Number of children accessing appropriate WASH facilities and hygiene services in learning 1,555,330 16,053iv facilities and safe spaces Education Number of children accessing formal or non-formal education, including early learning 7,317,644 8,809,202v Number of schools implementing safe school protocols (infection prevention and control) 17,566 4,371

Number of teachers trained in delivering digital, distance, and blended learning 140,959 104,689vi

Number of parents/caregivers of children under 5 receiving ECD counseling and/or parenting 296,000 37,058 support Child Protection, GBV & PSEA Number of children and caregivers accessing mental health and psychosocial support 700,350 340,957 Number of women, girls and boys accessing GBV risk mitigation, prevention or response 106,400 1,912vii interventions

Number of children without parental or family care provided with appropriate alternative care 27,857 1,180viii arrangements

Number of people with access to safe channels to report sexual exploitation and abuse 1,119,363 644,138 Social Protection Number of households reached with humanitarian cash transfers across sectors 10,500 0ix Number of households benefitting from new or additional social transfers from governments 124,200 306,641x with UNICEF technical assistance support

C4D/Community Engagement/AAP Number of people reached through messaging on access to services. 18,310,769 15,118,088xi

Number of people participating in engagement actions (for social and behavioral change) 1,081,500 230,823

i Overachievement related to a significant IYCF advocacy campaign in Kazakhstan which covered a vast number of caregivers. ii Campaigns not started in all countries. Data not fully available at closure of reporting period. iii Limited funding available, while some procurements planned yet implemented during the reporting period. iv Some activities recently started. Data not fully available at closure of reporting period. v Overachievements related to some countries resuming provided through online modalities. vi Significant achievements due to some countries providing training provision through online modalities. vii Most data not fully available at closure of reporting period. viii Data not available for all countries and for some countries interventions not yet implemented due to limited funding. ix Intervention not yet started due to lack of funding. x Overachievement related to a support to a development of a nationwide single registry social protection system in Uzbekistan, which removed barriers and streamlined the application processes resulting in a significant increase in applications. xi Significant achievements due to online platforms boosting messaging. 9

Annex B: Funding Status

Humanitarian Resources available Requirement Other resources Funding Sector resources from 2020 (Carry- for 2021 used in 2021 Gap (%) received in 2021 over)

Nutrition 1,380,000 37,800 55,878 66,964 88% Health 14,425,000 941,913 1,140,735 2,228,766 70% WASH 11,699,000 117,800 0 408,218 96% Child Protection, 755,903 427,661 640,854 GBV & PSEA 8,839,000 79% Education 10,033,000 85,759 376,239 2,206,708 73% C4D 7,767,000 242,364 527676 1,054,521 77%

Social Protection 10,168,750 20,000 179,360 847,543 90% Emergency Preparedness, Response and DRR support 7,110,000 2,472,414 0 650,358 56% Regional Office Technical Capacity 550,000 150,000 0 261,293 25% Total 71,971,750 4,823,954 2,707,549 8,365,225 78%

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